It took more than nine months, but a giant sloth’s head has finally been attached to its huge steel body.

The creature is one of dozens of prehistoric beasts that roamed the Borrego Valley floor millions of years ago. Artist Ricardo Breceda is the talent behind the sculptures, and he was back in Borrego Springs last week to address the sloth head issue.

Five years ago, wealthy philanthropist Dennis Avery commissioned Breceda to create the first of what would become dozens of steel sculptures placed all over the unincorporated desert community on some of the 3-square-miles of undeveloped land Avery owned. They were an instant hit with locals and tourists and became known as Sky Art.

What began as a lark and two sculptures morphed into more than 130. Then, unexpectedly, Avery died last July.

Avery’s death hit many people hard, perhaps few as hard as Breceda. At the time, he was completing what he thought might be one of Avery’s last statues, the giant sloth. But when Avery died, all work stopped as lawyers dealt with his estate.

The sloth’s head lay on the ground next to its body for nine months, waiting to be attached. Late last week, Breceda welded the steel head to the sloth’s body.

No more new statues will appear on Avery’s Galleta Meadows Estate, but the existing works will remain and will be cared for.

Breceda said Avery made sure money would be set aside after his death to pay for upkeep, which Breceda will do. A lawyer for Avery’s estate confirmed the statues will be maintained, as will the Galleta Meadows website.

“People love them. People from other countries, from around the world come to look at them,” Breceda said.

The sculptures have become an important part of Borrego Springs’ struggling economy. Word of Breceda’s Sky Art has spread over the last few years, and many days people there are people pulled over on the side of the road, cameras in hand, gawking.

“We have people who come here strictly for the sculptures now,” said Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Linda Haddock. “That’s the thing that brings them out. And then we’re able to share the mission and story about the village. It’s interesting to see it keep evolving. It’s nonstop. Every single day we have people, all year long, coming out for the statues.”